The Top 10 Most Common Car Accident Injuries
It has been noted that 4.4 million people annually are involved in the top 10 most common car accident injuries, seriously enough to require medical attention. Within those statistics, 2.35 million are injured or disabled by their accidents. Car accidents affect any and everyone behind the wheel. It has been calculated that more than half of all road traffic accidents happen among vulnerable people like pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
In the U.S. motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of damages and injuries. Not only are they considered and known to be harmful, but expensive. They are known to cause considerable economic losses. Not only to individuals but to families and even nations in their entirety. Injuries cause losses to increase costs of lost productivity for those who are disabled or killed, for treatments, and those who need to take time off work or school to care for the injured.
Common Car Accident Injuries and Lawsuits
Especially for the top 10 most common car accident injuries, working with an experienced lawyer when you’re injured in an auto accident will be necessary to build a claim for recovery. With injuries ranging from minor to catastrophic, this can severely affect the amount of compensation that a victim needs.
Where there are impact injuries, the result of the victim’s body hitting part of the car, or penetrating injuries, the result from an object entering the victims body, can dramatically affect the amount of compensation that a victim is entitled to. There are even some injuries that are common and not as severe and will heal with moderate treatment over the course of time.
Generally the victim and their personal injury attorney must prove negligence, cause and damages. Considering situations and elements can vary, whether by liability, malpractice, product / vehicle defects, accident, and the level of severity of the injuries will end up determining the value of the case.
Did you or a loved one suffer any of the below common car accident injuries in Stuart, Florida?
- Brain Injury
- Chest Injury
- Injury to Limbs
- Whiplash
- Lacerations
- Fractured Bones
- Internal Bleeding
- Spinal Cord/Herniated Disc/Back Injury
- PTSD
- Emotional Pain and Suffering
Common Car Accident Injuries Include:
Check out the Association for Safe International Road Travel for Crash Statistics
Head Injuries
If you’re involved in a high-speed collision, your head may strike any part of the car. The most common being the steering wheel, windows, or windshield. Not only will that cause external damages such as cuts and bruises to the face but can cause serious internal damages. If not treated properly, traumatic head injuries can be the cause for long term issues like brain function. Even short-term issues that stem from concussions, headaches or sleeping problems
Although it may be difficult to treat head injuries because they may be hard to diagnose at first, it will help to have a deliberate plan to be able to avoid long-term complications.
Brain injury is a phrase that encompasses everything across the board, from mild concussion to head trauma. This phrase has given rise to the most common type of lawsuits following a motor vehicle accident. It’s important to seek medical attention after an accident because it is not uncommon for symptoms of a brain injury to be delayed.
Aside from the non economic and economic damages, a person that suffers from a brain injury may need to seek compensation for loss from medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish, and income.
Chest injuries
It’s not just the head that a victim has to worry about striking any part of the vehicle while in an accident. These accidents can cause damage to many internal organs. Our chest is extremely exposed to the steering wheel, side of the car door, the dashboard, etc. At high impact broken ribs may be that result. Our ribs are fragile. Being shoved or abruptly thrown sideways, backwards, or forwards may leave our ribs exposed to unavoidable damages which are painful and require long-term recovery and rest.
Injuries to Limbs
It is known there is limited leg room in a vehicle. A sudden impact can cause limbs and specifically your knees, to hit the dashboard at high impact. Not only can this cause pain throughout your ligaments but may result in the need for surgery, braces, or crutches to fix the damages. All which affects the ability to walk. Sudden impact can throw a leg against not just the dashboard but even the front seats, and if you’re in the back of the vehicle, a door. Aside from broken or shattered knees, this can also act similarly with arms and shoulders. In extreme cases, which are known to be rare, these injuries can lead to amputation of the limb.
Soft Tissue and Whiplash
Whiplash is a common term used to name the effect that muscles, tendons, and ligaments have when your body moves abruptly and strains the muscles and other soft tissues without breaking bones. Considering this movement would be faster than you would move on your own, whiplash can be very painful and take time to heal.
It is a very common and cited claim in car accidents. Because of its frequency, it has been observed as suspicious by many insurers.
Lacerations
From the result of the high impact when your body strikes the car, many victims suffer from scrapes, lacerations, and bruising. Even at high impact, not only does this occur with areas of the car, or airbag, but the objects inside the car being thrown around by the force of impact.
Most cases require little treatment and resolve on their own but in more severe cases some lacerations require stitches and involve greater suffering and costs towards recovery.
Additional Broken Bones
Beyond the expected damage to limbs such as your legs or knees. Different types of impact can affect different parts of the body. Amounts of unnatural force on your body than it can withstand can cause anyone to suffer a painful break. It is common in certain types of crashes including rear-end or side-impact accidents where a victim’s hips can break. Long recovery and the lack of ability to get around can be costly and affect the victims emotional state.
Internal Bleeding
It is known that we suffer all kinds of surface injuries due to car accidents. Mild or severe, they are one of the most common injuries victims attain. Seeing the problem on the surface makes it easy to seek medical attention and know something must be fixed. Internal bleeding in addition to this is not surprising or uncommon. However, it can be dangerous.
If there is a chance you might be suffering from internal bleeding, it’s imperative to find critical care to ensure your injuries are not life-threatening. Some of these injuries need to be treated quickly after the crash and is the reason it’s important to seek medical attention after an accident.
Herniated disc
Back injuries can vary. It is even documented that lower and middle back muscles can suffer from whiplash during the impact of a car accident. Just as common is a herniated disc. This occurs when one more vertebrae in your spine either shift out of place or rupture.
This can cause pain and complications for long-term recovery. In some instances, victims never fully recover. This kind of injury can affect their daily lives. Walking or even sitting for long periods of time, exercise, lack of mobility, etc. can all be a ripple effect from a herniated disc.
PTSD
It’s not just the physical that can suffer from a car accident. It is known that a lot of victims also suffer from mental and emotional injuries after a crash. Post-traumatic stress disorder being one of the most common after-effects of emotional trauma. Simple or daily routines may become hard or impossible.
This leaves the victim in a constant worrisome and stressed state throughout regular or their daily lives. You could be compensated for mental health treatment if you’ve suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after a car accident.
Other Psychological Pain
Mental distress can be the result of a car accident and is very real. In addition to PTSD, psychological injuries are considered a level of emotional pain and suffering and are taken very seriously.
Feeling a level of guilt, or reliving the car accident are all a level of mental distress. In addition to the physical injuries, it is just as important to seek help for mental injuries as well.
If you’ve suffered any of the above damages or injuries, call the lawyers at Donaldson and Weston for a free consultation with a personal injury attorney to discuss your rights and the compensation you deserve.
Avoiding Accidents
It is impossible to control the other drivers on the road, but you can do your best to be prepared and be aware to do your part to avoid accident injuries.
Be mindful of the speed limit. Car accidents that happen at higher speeds increase your chances for worse injuries. If drivers obey the speed limit, we could decrease the severity of these car accidents.
Wear your seatbelt. Being able to avoid hitting your head on the windshield and dodging a pretty vile head or brain injury is worth your health not to mention the costs that would result in that kind of medical attention.
Make sure your car is up to date. Equipment failure can make car accidents entirely unavoidable. By making sure your car is in good shape, you can avoid not only injuries but accidents all together. Keeping yourself accountable for the possible risk factors while being on the road, makes it easier for your personal injury lawyer to prove you not at fault for a car accident claim or case.
5 Top Risks from Common Car Accident Injuries
There is a learned safely system in place by the World Health Organization. They call it “accommodating human error”. These risk factors aim to ensure a safe approach to our transport system for all users. Taking into account people’s levels of vulnerabilities and being able to leave room for human error and avoid these common car accident injuries.
Not only safe roads, speeds, and vehicles provided by the state and government but issues that need to be addressed by the public to provide the safest transportation and eliminate accidents and fatalities.
Distracted Driving
Drivers using mobile phones are almost four times more likely to be involved in a crash. Using phones slows reaction time to braking and traffic signals and makes it difficult to accurately stay in your lane at the proper distances.
It has been studied that even hands-free devices are not much safer and still increase the risk for a car crash.
Driving Under the Influence
The risk of drug influences varies depending on the drug being used. For instance, a crash is about five times more likely to occur for those who have used amphetamines versus someone who hasn’t. When it comes to drunk-driving, the risk of a car accident increases as the person’s BAC levels go up.
Speeding
The speed of the vehicle is directly related to the severity of the crash. “For example, every 1% increase in mean speed produces a 4% increase in the fatal crash risk and a 3% increase in the serious crash risk.” “In car-to-car side impacts the fatality risk for car occupants is 85% at 65 km/h.”
Nonuse of Protective Gear
Although helmets are not required when riding a motorcycle, it does reduce the risk of fatal injuries by 42% and 69% reduction in head injuries. “Wearing a seat-belt reduces the risk of death among drivers and front seat occupants by 45 – 50%, and the risk of death and serious injuries among rear seat occupants by 25%” and “The use of child restraints can lead to a 60% reduction in deaths.”
Unsafe Vehicles and Roads
Basic standards are used in UN regulations on vehicle safety around the country. There are applied manufacturing and product standards that will potentially save many lives.There requirements such as front and side impact regulations, electronic stability control, airbags, and seat belts that fit all the basic requirements for safe vehicles. All which we, as consumers must maintain throughout the duration of the vehicle’s life on the road.
In addition to the roads which are supposed to be built adequately for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists, and accommodate cycling lanes, safe crossing points, footpaths and other measures that if followed correctly, reduce the risk of accidents and injuries.
Post-Crash Care
Caring for injuries and damages post-crash can be very time-sensitive. Sometimes it can be the difference between a short and long-term recovery, or life and death. Give yourself time to get pre-hospital and hospital care for the best quality of recovery.
Vital Signs for Motor Vehicle Crash Injuries by the CDC
Sometimes, it just so happens that your accident was unavoidable, but the extent of your injuries could be. Seek medical attention immediately. Injuries don’t always show right away and the severity of the damages could take time to show even if they are one of the basic of common car accident injuries. Getting an evaluation from a professional could help avoid long-term recovery and costs.
In addition to making sure your costs and bills are documented accurately. You can work with a medical professional to come up with a recovery plan, respond the best way to your injuries and have proper documentation to build your case fairly with a personal injury lawyer.
Call Us Today for a Free Consultation about your Common Car Accident Injuries with a Lawyer in Stuart
If you believe you or a loved one was in a car accident and suffered any type of common car accident injuries, contact the skilled personal injury attorneys at Donaldson & Weston. Our car accident attorneys in Stuart We understand the devastating consequences and are passionate about helping the injured and their loved ones fight for the compensation they need to get their lives back. Call 772-266-5555 or send us a message to schedule a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation. If you are unable to come to us, a member of our team will come to you.
